March 14, 2014

Politics: Just Say No!

During the Reagan administration, the Republican answer to drugs and sex outside marriage was to “Just say no!” Abstinence was the mantra, which resulted in the pursuit of policies that simply did not work in the real world.

except that this time the Republicans think the way to resolve healthcare issues is to “just say no” to poverty. This video is quite an insight into Republican thinking about people in general and about anyone but the top 1% in particular.

With all of the misinformation being spread about Obamacare, one would think that a viable alternative would be lurking in the background. Instead, we have the new “just say no” campaign. Strikingly, Republicans seem to be unwilling or unable to grasp just how important access to healthcare is for breaking the poverty cycle and making the American dream of upward mobility a reality.

Dear Mr. Adin, I just had to stop and thank you for all the great editing advice and other cogent opinions you give so freely. Your posts have been so valuable to me in my life as a professional freelance editor. Best regards, Paula Szocik

Thanks for posting that interview with a Fox News person. So enlightening to hear the opinion of the “fair and balanced” network! P.S. I got a plan on the NY State Healthcare exchange for myself and my son in college, which is more affordable than my old plan, offers more provider choices, more services, and better formulary. I also know how good Medicare is, because my husband is on it. If I had the option of buying into Medicare (I’m too young right now), I probably would have done that.

Hilarious video, but frightening as well. I have long wondered what option the Party of “No” planned to offer the American people for healthcare. If not Obamacare, what? Now I know! As usual, the truth is right in front of us: If people would just stop being poor, this whole problem would be solved!

The Fox man used so many false assumptions, it had my head spinning. (1) USA has the best health care system in the world. No. We. Don’t. (2) If you’re poor, it must mean you don’t have a HS diploma. Er, huh? (3) You can be not poor by deciding to not be poor. Or by deciding not to be poor. Or to be not poor. Pick one. (4) If you get a GED, you can get a really good job with health care insurance. In what world??? (5) Now that you’ve gotten that GED, you get a job and work for a year and will get really good health insurance. Double-HUH? Why does it take a year? Why would the employer of a low-skilled worker (presumably not a union worker, as we all know how FOX and GOP feel about that) offer health insurance without all those pesky government rules and regulations from the PPACA compelling them to do so?

One thing that really struck me was how he complained about those deadbeats who can afford insurance but won’t buy it, opting instead for the free lunch of being uninsured. But he rejects the PPACA, which mandates personal responsibility for those who can afford to buy insurance and subsidies to help those can’t. Even Paul Ryan’s plan calls for subsidies! (though inexplicably not tied to income)

OK, I’m done. Back to editing a paper for an international relief NGO. Lots of innovation in health care in other parts of the world; we could learn from that…

“SORRY, BUT THIS VIDEO IS
UNAVAILABLE FROM YOUR LOCATION.
BUT HEY, AT LEAST YOU HAVE KANGAROOS AND BOOMERANGS.”

But I get the gist from the comments. Australia’s healthcare may not be the best, but I’d have it any day over America’s. For a start, everyone is afforded healthcare, regardless of how much money they have or don’t have.